Inslee Explores Minimum Wage Hike For State Workers, Contractors

President Obama recently ordered a minimum wage increase for federal contractors. Now Washington Governor Jay Inslee says he may consider a similar executive order at the state level. The Democrat made his comments Friday after a meeting with the President at the White House where minimum wage was discussed.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee says he may consider an executive order to raise the minimum wage.

Credit M.O. Stevens / Flickr

“We are going to evaluate what the status is of workers who work for the state and/or contractors with the state to look what might be the right policy in that regard,” Inslee says.

Inslee says his review will take several months. This month, the governor’s budget office estimated how much it would cost to boost the minimum wage for state employees to $12 an hour. Answer, $2 million per year. Long term, the governor supports an increase in Washington’s statewide minimum wage for everyone. It’s currently $9.32 an hour – the highest in the nation.